The Rockland Posthttp://www.rocklandpost.com
A Publication Unlike Any OtherSun, 01 Apr 2018 13:03:36 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.1http://www.rocklandpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/21430280_1699660186713053_4741093869365406485_n-144x144.jpgThe Rockland Posthttp://www.rocklandpost.com
3232Happy 2018! Its officially the new year everywhere! Video of Trump to lighten your dayhttp://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/04/01/happy-2018-its-officially-the-new-year-everywhere-video-of-trump-to-lighten-your-day/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/04/01/happy-2018-its-officially-the-new-year-everywhere-video-of-trump-to-lighten-your-day/#respondSun, 01 Apr 2018 12:58:45 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4641Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and Happy Holidays everywhere. Praise to god and happy new year. Be Safe out there. The Rocklandpost wishes you a peaceful and joyous day with your loved ones or the ones that need your love.

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and Happy Holidays everywhere. Praise to god and happy new year. Be Safe out there. The Rocklandpost wishes you a peaceful and joyous day with your loved ones or the ones that need your love.

]]>http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/04/01/happy-2018-its-officially-the-new-year-everywhere-video-of-trump-to-lighten-your-day/feed/0MALE PASSENGER IN WOMAN’S CAR PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER IN WESCHESTERhttp://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/04/01/man-in-womans-vechile-pleads-guilty-to-stabbing-murder-in-weschester/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/04/01/man-in-womans-vechile-pleads-guilty-to-stabbing-murder-in-weschester/#respondSun, 01 Apr 2018 10:33:42 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4638DAVID ROJAS PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED MURDER OF YONKERS WOMAN March 29, 2018— Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that David Rojas (DOB 02/08/1979) of Yonkers pleaded guilty Thursday to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a B violent felony, in connection with a stabbing in Hastings-on-Hudson. New York State Supreme Court Judge Susan M. Capeci accepted the […]

March 29, 2018— Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that David Rojas (DOB 02/08/1979) of Yonkers pleaded guilty Thursday to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a B violent felony, in connection with a stabbing in Hastings-on-Hudson. New York State Supreme Court Judge Susan M. Capeci accepted the plea.

On Nov. 13, 2017, defendant David Rojas was a passenger in a vehicle belonging to the victim, a former girlfriend, when he stabbed her approximately 14 times in her abdomen and chest, while they were parked on Saw Mill River Road in Hastings-on-Hudson. The victim fled her vehicle and ran on Saw Mill River Road waving down passing motorists for help. Rojas drove off with the victim’s car but circled back several times looking for her.

A passing motorist, a high school athletics coach, saw the victim in need of assistance and stopped to help her. The Good Samaritan took the victim into his car where she could be safe and called 911. The victim was then transported to Westchester Medical Center where she received treatment for stab wounds to her abdomen, chest, leg and hand.

Rojas was apprehended in Yonkers driving the victim’s car shortly after the stabbing. After he was located, the defendant was interviewed by detectives from Greenburgh Police Department and he admitted that that he stabbed the victim. Rojas later directed detectives to the spot where he threw the weapon, a metal ice pick.

The defendant was remanded to the Westchester County Jail following his guilty plea, where he will remain until his sentencing, scheduled for May 31, 2018. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 25 years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Owein Levin of the Special Prosecutions Division prosecuted the case.

]]>http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/04/01/man-in-womans-vechile-pleads-guilty-to-stabbing-murder-in-weschester/feed/0Alleged Psycho Chiropractor accused of breaking 3 month old girls’ 28 ribs and causing brain injury in Ohiohttp://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/pyscho-chiropractor-accused-of-breaking-3-month-old-girls-28-ribs-and-causing-tbi-in-ohio/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/pyscho-chiropractor-accused-of-breaking-3-month-old-girls-28-ribs-and-causing-tbi-in-ohio/#respondThu, 22 Mar 2018 02:18:08 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4627 MASON, Ohio —A dad said his little girl’s serious injuries were the result of an accident, but investigators are saying its more criminal than that. A 3-month-old girl was taken to Children’s Hospital by her new mother in February with traumatic brain injuries and 28 rib fractures, all in multiple stages of healing. While […]

MASON, Ohio —A dad said his little girl’s serious injuries were the result of an accident, but investigators are saying its more criminal than that.

A 3-month-old girl was taken to Children’s Hospital by her new mother in February with traumatic brain injuries and 28 rib fractures, all in multiple stages of healing.

While doctors were told it was the result of an accident, they found the injuries were not consistent with that statement at all.

“The child had over 28 rib fractures of varying ages, meaning they had happened at different times,” prosecutor David Fornshell said to WTWL Channel Five News Ohio.

Last Friday, police arrested the little girl’s father, Jason Bittner.

“Frankly he didn’t deal real well with newborns, in terms of them being ‘fussy’ as newborns are,” Fornshell said.

Both Bittner and his wife, the victim’s mother are chiropractors at Bittner Chiropractic in West Chester.

Cop say Bittner said it may have been because he really wanted a little boy instead of a daughter.

“We know that he was somewhat resentful that his second child was actually a baby girl, he was wanting it to be a boy,” Fornshell said.

Bittner is also well known in his church community, and prosecutors believe these charges will be alarming to many who know him.

“There’s going to be a lot of people that either are patients of Mr. Bittner, or go to church with him, or friends or neighbors who are going to believe this is just some type of accident,” Fornshell said. “As the evidence in this case comes out, I think there’s going to be a lot of people that may not have known Mr. Bittner as well as they thought they did.”

Bittner has been charged with assault and two counts of endangering children, the first for the injuries the child suffered, the second is for failing to get his daughter medical treatment.

Legislation named in memory of Ossining drowning victim would allow judges to consider previous intoxicated boating accidents in DWI sentencing

Albany, NY – The New York State Senate on Monday unanimously passed Bryan Johnson’s Law, sponsored by Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester), which would allow judges consider prior Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) offenses when sentencing a person for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

The bill was named for Bryan Johnson, a 26-year-old from Ossining, who passed away in June of 2012. Johnson drowned in the waters off City Island in a boating prank gone wrong.

Under the current law, Sen. Carlucci said judges do not have to consider BWI’s when sentencing a person found guilty of a DWI offense.

“A loophole in our state’s law allows someone who has received one or more BWI’s to be sentenced as a first time offender for a DWI, and this shouldn’t be the case,” said Sen. Carlucci.

Senator Carlucci’s bill would require a judge to consider prior BWI convictions from the past 25 years during a DWI sentencing.

“It doesn’t matter what vehicle you are driving, if it’s a boat or if it’s a car. The judge is looking at that pattern. We need to add some common sense to our legislation to make sure we are sending a message that when you get on a boat you do not leave your common sense ashore,” said Sen. Carlucci.

Sen. Carlucci added penalties for repeat BWI and DWI offenders are much more serious than for first time offenders. They can include increased fines, a license being revoked or even jail time.

Sen. Carlucci and Assemblymember Sandy Galef (D-Westchester/Putnam), worked with Johnson’s mother and grandmother following Bryan’s death in an effort to improve boating safety.

The bill is sponsored in the Assembly (A8582-A) by Assemblymember Galef.

“I am glad to see that Bryan Johnson’s law has passed in the Senate, and that the State is one step closer to protecting our residents from reckless boating,” said Assemblymember Galef. In order to be sure that our waterways and roadways are safe, we need to connect violations by operators of intoxicated vehicles and vessels. I hope to see my colleagues in the Assembly pass this legislation as well as getting the support of the Governor to make this summer safer on the water.”

]]>http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/nys-senate-passes-senator-carluccis-bryan-johnsons-law/feed/0YONKERS MAN ARRAIGNED ON 91 COUNTS STEMMING FROM VIOLATING ORDERS OF PROTECTIONhttp://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/yonkers-man-arraigned-on-91-counts-stemming-from-violating-orders-of-protection/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/yonkers-man-arraigned-on-91-counts-stemming-from-violating-orders-of-protection/#respondWed, 21 Mar 2018 07:40:08 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4619March 19, 2018­–Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today that Talib Waters (DOB 06/22/87) of Yonkers has been arraigned on 91 counts, among them one count of Bribing a Witness, six counts of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, 42 counts of Aggravated Family Offense and 42 counts of Criminal Contempt in […]

March 19, 2018­–Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today that Talib Waters (DOB 06/22/87) of Yonkers has been arraigned on 91 counts, among them one count of Bribing a Witness, six counts of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, 42 counts of Aggravated Family Offense and 42 counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree stemming from violations of orders of protection against him related to his child’s mother and her family.

The defendant faces a max of 2-1/3 to seven years if convicted of the top count of Bribing a Witness, a class D felony.

BACKGROUND: On Nov. 7, 2017, Waters violated a full order of protection in favor of his child’s mother by entering her residence in Yonkers. Waters again returned to the victim’s residence and encountered her Nov. 8, and Nov. 9, 2017, in violation of this same order of protection. He was subsequently arrested Nov. 9, 2017. On Dec. 25, 2017, Talib Waters again violated an order of protection against both his child’s mother and his child’s grandmother. Again, on Dec. 27, 2017, he violated the order of protection against his child’s mother. He was re-arrested Dec. 27, 2017.

In addition, between Oct. 1, 2017, and Jan. 31, 2018, Waters sent the victim dozens of letters, in violation of the order of protection in place. In one particular letter, he offered her a sum of money to drop the charges pending against him.

ADA Megan Hannon of the Domestic Violence Bureau of the Special Prosecutions Division is prosecuting the case.

]]>http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/yonkers-man-arraigned-on-91-counts-stemming-from-violating-orders-of-protection/feed/0SINCERE SMITH OF NEW ROCHELLE PLEADS GUILTY TO ROBBERY IN OSSININGhttp://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/sincere-smith-of-new-rochelle-pleads-guilty-to-robbery-in-ossining/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/sincere-smith-of-new-rochelle-pleads-guilty-to-robbery-in-ossining/#respondWed, 21 Mar 2018 07:39:05 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4617March 20, 2018– Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Sincere Smith (DOB 05/10/95) pleaded guilty Monday to Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, for a robbery that took place in the Village of Ossining Feb. 12, 2017. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 13, 2018, and faces […]

March 20, 2018– Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced that Sincere Smith (DOB 05/10/95) pleaded guilty Monday to Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, for a robbery that took place in the Village of Ossining Feb. 12, 2017. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 13, 2018, and faces up to 25 years in prison. Smith, of New Rochelle, is currently in custody in Westchester County awaiting sentencing.

Earlier, Smith was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, Feb. 28, 2018, after a weeklong trial regarding an incident May 13, 2017, at a Main Street New Rochelle barber shop where he and another man pistol whipped a victim. On Feb. 2, 2018, Smith’s co-defendant, Philip Sutton, pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree for the same incident. Sutton admitted to acting in concert with Smith.

Smith is also charged along with co-defendants Eric Lee, Allen Copeland and Leroy Garcia with the murder of Trevon Boswell in Mount Vernon which took place during a 12-hour violent crime spree that occurred May 22, 2017. Smith faces up to 25 years to life in prison if he is convicted on this 50-count indictment which is currently pending. Smith is scheduled to appear in court on this indictment April 12, 2018.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Lauren Abinanti and Brian Bendish.

]]>http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/21/sincere-smith-of-new-rochelle-pleads-guilty-to-robbery-in-ossining/feed/0WHITE PLAINS MAN FOUND GUILTY IN ENGAGING IN SEX WITH A CHILD IN RYEhttp://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/19/white-plains-man-found-guilty-in-engaging-in-sex-with-a-child-in-rye/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/19/white-plains-man-found-guilty-in-engaging-in-sex-with-a-child-in-rye/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 17:57:57 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4605WHITE PLAINS MAN FOUND GUILTY IN ENGAGING IN SEX WITH A CHILD March 14, 2018 — Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today Jard Hobbs (DOB 05/05/73) was convicted of engaging in a course of sexual conduct with a child under 13 years old. Judge Susan Cacace presided over the jury trial in […]

March 14, 2018 — Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today Jard Hobbs (DOB 05/05/73) was convicted of engaging in a course of sexual conduct with a child under 13 years old. Judge Susan Cacace presided over the jury trial in Westchester County Court.

Hobbs was found guilty on three counts:

Course of Sexual Conduct against a Child in the First Degree, a class B violent felony

Rape in the Second Degree, a class D felony.

Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor.

Prosecutors stated the sexual abuse began when the child was 11 and ended when she was 13 at which time she told her family. The defendant was in his 40s. They subsequently reported the abuse to Rye Police. During the police investigation, they found DNA evidence including semen in the child’s shorts which corroborated the charges.

Rye Police arrested Hobbs at his White Plains residence July 7, 2017.

Hobbs has been remanded without bail while he is awaiting sentencing May 15, 2018. He faces up to 32 years in prison with post-release supervision, and he will have to register as a sex offender after he gets out of jail. The case was investigated by Rye Police, the Child Abuse Bureau of the Special Prosecutions Division of the DA’s Office and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety.

It was prosecuted by ADA Paul Stein, Chief of the Child Abuse Bureau, and ADA Karen Herbert of the Special Prosecutions Division.

]]>http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/19/white-plains-man-found-guilty-in-engaging-in-sex-with-a-child-in-rye/feed/0ANDRE COVERDALE PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN STABBING DEATH OF HIS MOTHER IN YONKERShttp://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/19/andre-coverdale-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughter-in-stabbing-death-of-his-mother-in-yonkers/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/19/andre-coverdale-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughter-in-stabbing-death-of-his-mother-in-yonkers/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 17:57:06 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4612ANDRE COVERDALE PLEADS GUILTY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN STABBING DEATH OF HIS MOTHER March 15, 2018–Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. today announced that Andre Coverdale (DOB 12/18/88), who has no known address, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class B felony, in the stabbing death of his mother, Dawne […]

March 15, 2018–Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. today announced that Andre Coverdale (DOB 12/18/88), who has no known address, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class B felony, in the stabbing death of his mother, Dawne McCray of Yonkers. County Court Judge Barry Warhit accepted the plea.

BACKGROUND: On Jan. 16, 2016, at about 12:30 p.m., the defendant walked up to a security booth at an apartment complex on Schroeder Street in Yonkers and told the security officer that “he had just killed his mother.” The defendant asked the guard to call the police.

When Yonkers Police arrived on the scene, the defendant was waiting at the guard booth. Coverdale told the officers his mother was in apartment 225 at the complex. When police officers entered the apartment, they found the bloodied victim dead in her bed. The medical examiner later said she died from multiple stab wounds in the face and neck which cut through a major artery resulting in massive bleeding.

Coverdale is scheduled to be sentenced May 23, 2018. He faces a maximum of 25 years in state prison. ADA Christine O’Connor and ADA Tim Ward prosecuted the case.

]]>http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/19/andre-coverdale-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughter-in-stabbing-death-of-his-mother-in-yonkers/feed/0Rockland County Executive Ed Day says “Open Government is Good Government”http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/16/rockland-county-executive-ed-day-says-open-government-is-good-government/
http://www.rocklandpost.com/2018/03/16/rockland-county-executive-ed-day-says-open-government-is-good-government/#respondFri, 16 Mar 2018 23:23:47 +0000http://www.rocklandpost.com/?p=4610Day: Open Government is Good Government New City, NY – As part of Sunshine Week and on National Freedom of Information Day, Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced changes to the Rocklandgov.com website to make it easier for residents to access information about public hearings and legal announcements. A link to the “Legal Announcements” page […]

New City, NY – As part of Sunshine Week and on National Freedom of Information Day, Rockland County Executive Ed Day announced changes to the Rocklandgov.com website to make it easier for residents to access information about public hearings and legal announcements. A link to the “Legal Announcements” page is now included under the “Find” Tab on the frontpage of the website and is also now at the bottom of every page of the site.

“This update to the county website will make it easier for our residents to find information and get involved with the issues that matter to them most,” said County Executive Day. “Having these notices available electronically provides greater public access and is yet another way we are making Rockland County government more transparent. It is my belief that the more involved our citizens are in the processes of government, the more we can all accomplish.”

The bill ensures a greater level of transparency, efficiency and fairness to the system. It makes sure drivers get their cashless toll bills in a timely fashion, so they do not end up owing thousands if they never received them.

“I have received hundreds of complaints from drivers, some literally driven into debt because of cashless tolls over the Tappan Zee / Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. This legislation will put safeguards in place so people receive their bills and have a way to dispute them and pay them off,” said Sen. Carlucci.

In many cases, drivers did not receive their $4.75 toll bill in the mail, and then could not understand how the toll and excessive fines were in the thousands.

The Toll Payer Protection Act allows consumers to sign up for text or email alerts when they receive a toll fee. Under the bill, cashless toll bills must be sent to drivers within 14 days by mail or within 72 hours by text or email. Additionally, consumers have the right to dispute fees online and gain access to records regarding their tolls as well as additional charges. Drivers would also have to be notified at least 30 days in advance if they face a registration suspension.

“This legislation would establish a reasonable user friendly process to ensure that motorists timely receive notices and can easily pay their toll bills. It would ban the current unconscionable practices of imposing exorbitant fines and penalties,” said Sen. Abinanti.